Greater Philadelphia area is plagued by 'graverobbers' with seven cemeteries targeted

[240B]

Greater Philadelphia area is plagued by 'graverobbers' with seven cemeteries targeted

Daily Mail
By KELLY GARINO
6 March 2025



A series of disturbing cemetery thefts has left multiple regions across Pennsylvania grappling with a 'graverobber' crisis, as families are left feeling violated over the 'desecration' of their loved ones' final resting places.

Several police departments across the Philadelphia region are investigating a string of crimes involving thieves stealing the doors off the front of mausoleums since February, likely in an attempt to scrap the rare metals for profit.

Seven cemeteries across Delaware County have been targeted, including those in the Philadelphia, Delaware, Bucks and Montgomery counties, as boarded-up mausoleum doors become increasingly more common.

'It was shocking, to say the least,' Samantha Bromley, the general manager of Montefiore Cemetery in Jenkintown, told 6 ABC News.

'They had been taken off the hinges, the glass had been removed out of the portion and set down,' she added. 'It's desecration of a grave.'

Police said the heartless criminals have been stealing the precious bronze doors off of mausoleums - each being worth more than $10,000 and weighing more than 200 pounds - and leaving the evidence behind.

In what appeared to be an overnight crime, three sets of mausoleum doors were stolen from Montefiore Cemetery in Jenkintown on February 10, leaving workers saddened and disturbed for the families.

The doors are 'valued at about $15,000 each, so about a $30,000 total just from our cemetery,' Chief Graeff told 6ABC.

(more)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14469665/greater-philadelphia-area-graverobbers-cemeteries-targeted.html

[Sighlass]

Do they just scrap the metal, or do they go several states over and sell the doors on the sly... I imagine most folks would love to have a real metal heavy door (I would and I have side windows if needed to peak out)...

[240B]

I do not think they sell them for scrap, or melt them down.
My first thought was they sell them overseas, like they do with cars.

[GtHawk]

If I had a family crypt like those with a big bronze door, I think I would be spending nights inside hoping they would break in. First I would scare the Hell out of them and then I’d give em the 12ga.

[collins]

they really will steal anything , even if nailed-down,  in Philly

[Lando Lincoln]

Eagles fans.

[Wingnut]

Go with cremation. Crypts are so MySpace,